Proud to admit that I am a horror junkie.
However, my definition of what falls under the realm of horror entertainment is fairly wide. Horror is an emotion experienced differently by individuals.
These are short reviews of the movies, television series, novels, comics, albums, and any thing else which crosses my path if I feel like falls into the wide world of horror entertainment.
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The Rating System
All opinions are my own. We are all different. What I may think is great, you may this terrible. Don't let my opinios stop you from exploring the vast world of horror in all media.
~Mind Blowing: Search for this movie immediately. It can only be described as pure greatness and possible an instant classic.
~So Good: Highly recommended because for one reason or another it stands out above the usual fair. Put the movie on your radar as it wont disappoint.
~In the Middle: The movie is a nothing special, average affair. It may entertain in the short term but it will be easily forgettable in the long haul.
~Warning: This movie is a cliched driven slop of familiar territory. Only watch if you're really of fan of this type of material.
~Steaming Pile: The movie is absolute garbage, a complete bore, and not worth the time or effort.
Starring: Bo-ra Nam, Soo-bin Bae
Director: Ji-Yeong Hong, Beom-sik Jeong, Gok Kim, Sun Kim, Dae-wung Lim, Kyu-dong Min
Premise:
A teenager is abducted and forced to tell scary tales - a brother and sister get an intruder while home alone, a killer escape police custody while on a plane, step-sisters take plastic surgery a little too extreme, and a paramedic fights with a mother who has an infected daughter.
My Take:
An anthology movie where all of the stories are decent but none really stood out for me.
Starring: Hermann Kopp Michael Krause, Heinrich Ebber
Director: Jorg Buttergeriet
Premise:
An anthology of tales dealing with death taking place on each day of the week.
My Take:
I always feel the same way after watching a movie by this director. Gross out and not into what I just watched yet enamored because their is a definite style and them to all of the director's work. It's going to be hit or miss for viewers just know the subject matter is intense and the gore is excessive and realistic.
Starring: Jack White, Dylan Minnette, Amy Ryan, Ken Marino, Odeya Rush, Ryan Lee
Director: Rob letterman
Premise:
After a writer's imaginary creations are unleashed onto a town; teens team up to stop them.
My Take:
I never read any of the books as I was in my late teens when they were first published. The movie seemed to have a fun and original take on the source material.
Starring: Udo Kier, Patrick Magee, Marina Pierro, Howard Vernon
Director: Wakeruab Viriwczyj
Premise:
During the engagement party of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Fanny Osbourne, the guests are treated to an intruder with murder on his mind.
My Take:
A rather sexual take on Jekyll & Hyde story that at times is fascinating and at time down right ridiculous. At least it keeps the viewer engrossed.
Premise:
After being set up by her lover, a crooked detective with the mafia who she then tries to murder, a woman is sent to a woman's prison ran by sadistic guards.
My Take:
What you expect from 70's Japan female prison movie? Lots of nudity, over the top character, crazy blood shed, and utter chaos abounds!
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Premise:
An International Space Station finds an organism on a meteor. The creature quickly grows as the crew discovers it was responsible for the destruction of life of Mars and now threatens Earth.
My Take:
A familiar tale rises above the material due to the excellent cast, tight direction, and bold ending.
Premise:
A young rocker gets a guitar owned by a former rock legend. He gets possessed by the rock legend in order to get revenge on those who killed him.
My Take:
A typical Troma flick with low budget, over the top scenarios, and blood shed. The multiple story lines works, a kid trying to save his parents business for the local female mafia and getting possessed by a wrongfully slain rock legend. but it's definitely not for everyone.
Starring: George Kennedy, Richard Crenna, Nick Mancuso, Kate Reid, Sal Rubinek, Sally Ann Howes
Director: Alvin RakoffS
Premise:
An ocean liner sinks at sea. A few survivors manage to escape when they come upon a ship that rescues them. One aboard they find out the ship is abandoned and harbors ties to Nazis.
My Take:
The first half of the movie is a tad slow and it definitely shows its age. But as some of the characters descend into madness and start dying the flick picks up. A strong cast helps the cause.
Premise:
An actor who killed his father as a youth brings his girlfriend to his home estate for the weekend to meet his mother. Old memories and truths and death +await.
My Take:
Awkward sex scenes, Oedipus complex, and lots of confusing fill this hard to find giallo.
Starring: Larry Casey, Trevor Murphy, Margaret Cash
Director: Gregory Gieras
Premise:
A group of friends head off to explore an underground cave in India before one of them gets married. What they dont know is the cave is full of giant centipedes.
My Take:
It's not the acting. It's not the special effects. It's not the bad story. Actually it's all of these and much more that makes this flick a dreadful stinker.
Starring: Patrick Fuggit, Phillip Glenister, Reg E. Cathey, Wrenn Schmidt, Brent Spiner, Kate Lynn Sheil, Charmin Lee, M.C. Gainey, Toby Huss, Lee Tergesen, C. Thomas Howell, Hoon Lee
Premise:
A Reverend and a young man fight off demons in a small West Virginia community.
My Take:
While the first season deals main with the struggle between the main character and his powers to cast out demons; season two shows just how big threat the demon takeover and the lengths the demons will go to make it happen. Lots of twists and turns happen in the season with an excellent cast.
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Callie Hernandez, Amy Seimetz, Demian Bichir, James Franco, Guy Pearce, Noomi Rapace
Director: Ridley Scott
Premise:
A colony ship comes across a new planet that harbors a horrible secret.
My Take:
I am not going to pretend like there aren't complaints and faults with the movie. There are many: smart people doing dumb things, little character development, disappointing CGI, a completely obvious ending, and what feels like a short run time (even at two hours). However there is still enough to keep me sucked in. Like most fans, I had hoped the prequel trilogy would be more than it's turned out to be. At this point, it is what it is and maybe the next one will sum things up.
Rating: In the middle (but damn if I still dont love this franchise)
Starring: Stephen Tyrone Williams, Zaraah Abrahams, Rami Malek
Director: Spike Lee
Premise:
A doctor gets stabbed by an ancient African artifact and instead of killing him, it curses him with the thirst for blood. He enters a relation with a woman who questions his existence.
My Take:
A slow, prodding remake of a slow, prodding original Ganja & Hess. There's enough to keep the viewer interested. It tries to be a sexual, art house flick but ends up being too boring. Watch the original Ganja & Hess instead it's more interesting.
Premise:
A well respected cameraman leads his own team into remote places on Earth searching for the creatures of legends.
My Take:
Like many of these cryptid shows the crew investigates an interesting scenario or creature. The team tries to come up with plausible reasons for the myth, investigates, and comes up with nothing except a theory that the creature may be out there hiding.
Favorite Episode:
"Cold Blooded Peruvian Predator" - Mungo and his team search the Amazon for the Yacumama, a giant snake.
